Feeler mechanism for looms



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVIN L. STONE, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORA- TION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed January 30, 1920. Serial No. 355,067.

- nisms for looms whereby the operative condition of a loom is changedprior to complete exhaustion of the filling in the running shuttle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a feeler mechanism which shall be simple in construction, sensitive to the presence or substantial absence of filling in theshuttle, and which shall be reliable and effective in operation and call the change when --a minimum amount of filling remains on the filling carrier or bobbin.

The present feeler mechanism relates more particularly to that type wherein the feeler member is displaced or moved laterally by the frontward pressure upon it when, on a detecting beat, the filling has become sub stantially exhausted. In carrying the invention into practical effect, the detecting element is preferably formed of two feeler members which are pivotally mounted-for movement toward and from each other in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and which carry laterally movable shoes which act upon an actuator and position it for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler members have been moved longitudinall of the shuttle on a detecting beat due to fi'ontward pressure thereagainst when the filling is substantially exhausted.

In the drawings: a

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the detecting side of a loom with the present invention associated therewith, some of the parts being omitted for clearness of illustration;

F ig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view showing more particularly the relation of parts when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing the relation of parts when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the feeler mechanism.

The loom frame 1 has secured thereto the brackets 2, one at each side of the loom in which is supported the transverse or rock shaft 3 having the arm 4 rising therefrom to which is pivoted at 5 the latch 6. The rear end portion 7 of the latch 6 is adapted at times to be engaged by an operating memher 8 which may be either a weft hammer,

or a part connected thereto, the construction being such that when the end 7 of the latch is engaged by the operating member 8, as it moves frontwardly, the rock shaft 3 will be turned to effect replenishment of filling, as is commonand well-known in this type of looms.

Pivotally mounted on the loom frame or a bracket 9 rising therefrom, is the transmitter 10, one end 11 of which is associated with the latch 6 and the other end of which carries the usual cam portion 12. Pivotally mounted at 13 is the controller 14 which passes above the end portion 12 of the transmitter and is normally held in its rearward position, as indicated in Fig. 1 by a spring 15. The parts so far described may be like or similar to corresponding parts in the wellknown Draper feeler as shown by the patent tfiogvood & Northrop No. 789,471, May 9,

Extending from the shipper stand 16 is a slotted bracket 17 to which the feeler stand 18 may be adjustably secured as by the bolt 19. The feeler stand is of the usual charactor or may be such as disclosed in the patent above referred to.

Mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom in the feeler stand 18,

is the feeler carrier or slide 20 which has a its end 27 in position above the controller 14, as indicated in Fig. 1, the construction being such that if at such times the feeler carrier or slide 20 is moved frontwardly of the loom, the path of movement of the end 27 of the actuator will pass above the controller 14 which will, therefore, not be moved by the actuator.

which project from the feeler carrier or slide.

To the front end portion of each of the feeler members is connected a shoe which, when the feeler members are moved relatively in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, will be moved transversely of the feeler carrier 20.

These shoes may be variously contrived, but in the present instance one of the shoes 34 which is pivotally connected to its feeler member 30 by the pivot 35, has a eneral wedge shape, as best indicatedmin Fig. 4; that is to say, it is widest adjacent the pivot 35 and tapers toward its free end. The other shoe 36 is pivotally connected to the other feeler member at 37 and has its end portion 38 upwardly curved somewhat, the construction being such that when the shoes are moved toward each other into overlapping relation, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the end 38 of the shoe 36 will direct the toe end portion of the shoe upwardly over the inclined surface of its companion shoe.

The actuator 23 has extending rearwardly from its pivotal support 24, a ledge or plate 39 normally in a position over the shoes 34 and 36, the construction being such that when, on a detecting beat,,a work-ing supply of filling is present in the shuttle, and the feeler members remain relatively undisturbed, as indicated in Fig. 2, on a detecting beat, the-ledge 39 will rest upon the top surface of the shoes, or one of them, and the actuator will remain inoperatively positioned relative to the controller 14 as the lay beats up. Should, however, the filling be substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the feeler members 30 will be separated at their rear end portions, as indicated in Fig. 3, andtthe shoes 34 and 36 will ride over each other or overlap and the shoe will raise the ledge 39, thereby causing the actuator 23 to be depressed into position to engage the controller 14 upon further frontward movement of the lay to thereby effect replenishment of filling.

I If a single feeler member 30 were employed instead of the two feeler members as described and which constitutes the pre-.

ferred form of the invention, the connected shoe, moving under the ledge 39 as the feeler member is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, on a detecting beat, would operatively position the actuator for replenishment of filling.

The lay 40 may be of usual construction and have the shuttle box 41 into which is received the shuttle 42 carrying the bobbin 43. The front wall of the shuttlebox is slotted at 44 and so also is the adjacent wall 45 of the shuttle, the construction being such that when the shuttle is properly boxed, the openings through the front wall of the shuttle box and adjacent wall of the shuttle will register to permit the entrance of the feeler members on a detecting beat.

Claims:

1'. Ina feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of two feeler members mounted for movement in opposite directions longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, an actuator pivotally mounted to swing in a substantially vertical plane,

and lifting shoes connected to the feeler members to swing the actuator into position for effecting replenishment of filling when the shoes are moved transversely into overlapping position.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of two feele members mounted for-movement in opposite directions longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, shoes pivotally connected to the feeler members and movable to an overlapping position when the feeler members are moved longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat, and an actuator op: eratively positioned by the shoes to effect replenishment of filling.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier, two feeler members pivotally mounted on the carrier for movement in opposite directions by the frontward push against them when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detectshuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a spring conlongitudinally of the shuttle, a shoe movable heating the two feeler members and normally o posing their relative movement vertical direction by the shoe to cause theactuator to effect replenishment of filling when the shoe is moved laterally of the car- I rier.

.5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier, a feeler member mounted on the carrier for movement longitudinally of" the shuttle by the frontward push upon it-when the filling is I substantially exhausted on a detecting beat,

- moved laterally of the feeler-carrier by the a shoe connected to the feeler member and feeler member when the latter" is moved longitudinally by the frontward push, and

' an actuator-which is also mounted on the overlying the shoe andby which the a'ctua- 'tor is operatively positioned by the shoe as, it moves laterally of the feeler carrier tojeffeeler carrier and has a rearward extension fe'ct replenishment of filling.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler carrier, two feeler members mounted on the carrler for relative .movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward push when the filling is sub- 3 members and moved'laterally of the feeler nameto this specification. tively moved longitudinally of the shuttle i by the frontward push, and an actuator stantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a shoe pivotally connected to one of the feeler carrier when the feeler members are relawhich is operatively positioned by the shoe as it moves laterally of the feelercarrier to effect replenishment of filling.

7. In a feeler mechanism for combination of a feeler carrier, two feeler looms, the

members pivotally mounted on the carrier,

a spring acting to hold the front end portions of the feeler members in separated re- 1 'lation, a shoe pivotally connected to the front end portion of each of the feeler members and adapted to ride one over the other, and an actuator positioned by the shoes as they :ride one over the other to effect replenishment of filling.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier that is moved frontw'ardly on each detecting beat, an actuator mounted on and movable with the feelercarrier and having a rearwardly extending ledge, afeeler member also pivotally mounted on the same feeler carrier for lateral displacement, and a shoe connected to the feeler' member for lateral movement [therewith beneath the ledge of the actuator to operatively position the actuator when filling" is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

9. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, afeeler carrler, an actuator mounted on the carrier, two feeler members pivotally mountedon the feelercarrier and each having a pivoted shoe, said shoes being shaped to ride one over the other and operatively position the actuator when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat;

- In testimony whereof I have signed my MELVIN L. STONE. 

